The Libertines reunion: Carl Barat interview

London’s likely lads are getting back together to play Hyde Park on July 5, as part of the British Summer Time concert series. Can we hope for new Libs material or are they just in it for the money? We get the scoop from Carl himself

You got the band back together in 2010. Why reunite The Libertines again?‘Rumours waft around every year and you don’t give it much thought. But this year I ‘heard’ it was going to be at Hyde Park, which is bigger and more impressive than I’m used to hearing! Then Peter said he’d be interested and things started to become real.’

Pete Doherty said he’s doing it for financial reasons. Are you?‘That may well be his motivation, but I think when Pete made those comments to the press he was getting it out of the way early on. There’s honesty in that, which is admirable, because it’s something people are going to throw at us down the line, so why not? [Money] isn’t something I’ll be thinking about when I’m on stage, to be honest, but you can’t deny it.’Be honest, do you all still get along?‘I didn’t speak to Pete for a while, but we’re back in conversation and it’s like we never lost touch. We’re just like old brothers. It doesn’t matter that time has elapsed – it’s as if not a minute has passed. It worried me that we’d have to start getting to know each other again, but when I was with Pete the other day, we were finishing conversations that we started six years ago about random films. It really is quite scarily like not a second’s passed.’

What’s exciting you most about the Hyde Park gig?‘The songs and being on stage with those boys. There is a nostalgia to it, but there’s also an energy locked in those songs that can only come out when we all play them together. And the four of us in the dressing room with all the anticipation. There’s a certain intimacy that’s like going into battle that no one else can know – well, except other bands and soldiers!’Is this a one-off or can we hope for more Libertines action in the future?‘We’re going to get together next week and play some guitars, play some old songs no one knows, or maybe come up with some new ones. I don’t want to make any promises because The Libertines aren’t big planners, but I dare say we’ll have to do some kind of a warm-up…’